By Selena Stevens

"The Cultural Diversity Festival facilitates a dialogue on campus that fosters diversity and is inclusive regardless of sex, age, race, ability or ethnicity... The festival is a tremendous reflection of the many cultural offerings within the UK community."

--James Kuder,
UK vice provost for student affairs

For information about 'Taste of Our World,' click here

Oct. 24, 2001 (Lexington, Ky.) -- The 13th annual University of Kentucky Cultural Diversity Festival will highlight the university's diversity with displays, events and cultural shows.

“The Cultural Diversity Festival facilitates a dialogue on campus that fosters diversity and is inclusive regardless of sex, age, race, ability or ethnicity,” said James Kuder, vice provost for student affairs whose office sponsors the festival. “We are excited to see so many people invigorating this campus with new and different ideas. The festival is a tremendous reflection of the many cultural offerings within the UK community."

The festival will be held Oct. 29 through Nov. 10. The festival, which began as a single week and four events, now spans two weeks and includes more than 40 events.

Highlights of the festival include:

• Diversity Festival Kickoff, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday, Oct. 29, Patterson Office Tower Plaza. The Cultural Diversity Festival Committee will officially kick off the two-week university celebration of our collective diversity with free food, entertainment and information on the festival's activities and events.

• European Pastry Café, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, Oct. 29 through Nov. 2, 245 Student Center. Room 245 of the Student Center receives a magical transformation from multipurpose meeting room to a lovely European style eatery. Among the traditional items sold are tortes, éclairs, grenache and quiche.

• A Taste of Our World, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 31, Student Center Grand Ballroom. The University of Kentucky is invited to share in the celebration of our collective diversity at the 12th annual A Taste of Our World. The celebration will feature a diverse menu of cultural-rich food items representing six continents. Tickets will be sold for 25 cents each to purchase individual samples or servings of the dishes (Diner and Plus accounts accepted). The festival atmosphere will be enhanced by a local rock band, The Bats, and the UK student ensemble Blue Steel. Admission is free.

• International Games Day, noon, Saturday, Nov. 3, Seaton Center. This event is open to all UK faculty, staff and students and will include soccer, cricket, table tennis and basketball. Sign-up by Oct. 26 to play or come to watch.

• Winter Holidays Across the World, 5 to 7 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 8, Jewell Hall. This event is free and open to the public. Winter Holidays Across the World will feature international food items typical of the celebration of the winter holidays in various cultures. Also, there will be a presentation on other aspects of these celebrations.

For a complete listing of and more information on events during the festival, visit www.uky.edu/DiversityFestival.